Trophyless Yet Again?

If as an Arsenal fan after watching yesterday's match still believe the Gunners will end the season with a trophy then you're just being sentimental and unrealistic. Yesterday's Efl semi final match up between Arsenal and Newcastle clearly shows the Gunners can't really get the results over the line when needed and necessary. It's really so funny that with all the open play chances created yesterday at the Emirates the Gunners failed to hit the back of the net .

Arsenal fell to a disappointing 2-0 defeat in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Newcastle triumphed thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. Mikel Arteta's starting lineup highlighted the magnitude of Tuesday's duel. The Spaniard fielded his strongest available starting XI for Newcastle's arrival, hopeful of a more impressive and fluid performance than was served up at the weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, from the first whistle, Arsenal found life challenging. Newcastle, somewhat surprisingly, utilised a dynamic pressing approach, forcing errors from the home side and limiting the time and space afforded to their talented forward line.

Newcastle understandably took a more cautious stance once going two goals ahead, sinking deeper and making an array of defensively minded substitutions. However, Arsenal continued to be stifled by Eddie Howe's side, having no answer for the deep-lying backline that stood before them.

I knew something was definitely wrong when Martinelli missed an open one on one chance in the first half , hitting the ball off the woodwork . Jurrien Timber and Havertz also missing clear cut headers just had to sum up the Gunner's woeful night .

There has long been a narrative that Arsenal need a new centre-forward if they're to turn from nearly men into serial winners. Isak has been one of the names regularly mentioned in gossip columns, with his mightily impressive performances on Tyneside not going unnoticed.

While Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks have occasionally tried to keep the goals coming, Tuesday evening showed exactly what Arsenal have been lacking during their rougher periods over the past few years.

With this 2 goals deficit it will surely be an Herculean task to turn the deficit over in the second leg fuxture at St James park in February. It will take a whole lot of character to achieve this . If the boys are up to the task I certainly do not know with what I saw yesterday night .

Arsenal are not yet out of the Premier League title race, but prioritising the cup competitions may stand Mikel Arteta in good stead during the second half of 2024/25.

The Spaniard's focused attention on the league has previously hindered the Gunners in the cups, but Liverpool's superiority at the summit right now means Arsenal will likely have to search elsewhere to claim silverware in year five of Arteta's project.

With the Carabao cup seemingly out of sight and reach, the Gunners have the FA cup and the Champions League to contend for . I honestly do not see us winning the league and I doubt if we are going to make a meaningful headway in the CL so we are left with the FA cup. Next stop for the Gunners is a home game against Manchester United. It is a FA cup tie and a dicey fixture for the Gunners as well . If we get knocked out by United on Sunday I feel it will be safe to say we are going another season trophyless.